Lock-trimming



(No Model.) l

G. R. JOHNSON.

'LOOK' TRIMMING.

Patented May 6 Uff? UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GUY R. JOHNSON, OF LONGDALE, VIRGINIA.

LOCK-TRIMMlNG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 427,423, dated May 6, 1890.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, GUY R. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Longdale, in the county of Alleghany and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in locks, the purpose thereof being to provide exceedingly simple and inexpensive means, which may readily be combined with a door-lock of any ordinary construction, whereby the key may be retained therein, and its ready insertion and removal permitted.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide means of the chai acter specified which shall also afford a complete shield for the keyhole, mufiiing or preventing the passage of sound, and wholly defeating all attempts to spy through the key-hole by servants or others.

The invention consiststo these ends in the several novel features of construction and new combinations of parts, hereinafter fully set forth, and then pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a sectional view of a portion of a door, showing a lock of any ordinary construction to which my invention is applied. Fig. 2 is a detail View of the diaphragm-muffier applied to the lock, shown in Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa detail perspective of the said diaphragm.

In the said drawings, the reference-numeral l denotes a section or portion of a door which is provided with a lock of any. known or preferred form.

Inasmuch as the invention is applicable to any pattern of lock operated by any ordinary key, no specific description of the look mechanism is necessary. f

The numeral 2 designates the escutcheon of the lock, beneath which I place a sheet, diaphragm, or septum 3, of rubber, felt, leather, or other suitable iieXible or elastic material, which may be partly or wholly coextensive with the escutcheon. This underlying diaphragm or sheet is provided with a small. opening 4 for the admission of the shank or shaft of the key, said opening being Application led February 26, 1890. Serial No. 341,789. (No model.)

substantially concentric with the opening in the escut-cheon-plate. Frein said opening a cut or slit 5 is formed of sufficient length to readily admit the passage of the key in insertin g or removing it from the lock.

In practice the opening 4 in the rubber, felt, or other material is preferably made of less size than the shaft or spindle of the key, in

order that it may close thereon upon insertion,

and by its elastic hold or grip prevent the dropping of the key, which is such a frequent cause of inconvenience and loss. If the material 3 is of proper elasticity or flexibility, this opening -L may be of extremely small diameter, as compared with the shaft or spindle of the key.

:lhe rubber, felt, leather, or other material of which the diaphragm or muffler is composed maybe set in a recess or mortise in the face of the door, or it may be interposed bef tween the plain unmortised face of the door and the escutcheon-plate.and held in place by the screws holdingthe eseutoheon. After the key is inserted the elastic or fieXible quality of the material composing the muflier enables it to secure a firm hold upon the shaft or spindle, whereby the key is prevented from rattling and falling out of the lock, and the noise ordinarily produced in inserting and withdrawing the key is greatly diminished, as the opening 4t in the muffler serves as a guide for the shaft or spindle, whereby it may be inserted Without material contact with the key-opening of the lock. Moreover, after the key has passed through the slit or cut 5, the latter closes by the elasticity of the material,

thereby effectually closing the opening and preventing all possibility of looking or spying through the keyhole. This closing of the key-opening also cuts off the passage of sound and prevents the overbearing of conversation carried on in a. reasonably low tone.

l. In a lock, the combination, with the escutcheon or other plate having an opening for the admission of the key, of a diaphragm of rubber, felt, leather or other suitable mate-v rial lying behind said plate and provided with an opening for the shaft or spindle of the key of less diameter than said shaft, and having IOO t eut or slit communicating with said openlength to admit the key, substantially as deingandextendng to the other end of the key scribed. f 1.o hole o1 opening, substantially as described. In testimony whereof I have afxed my sig- 2. The Combination, with the eseuteheonnature in presence of two Witnesses. plete of a. look, of a flexible or elastic di-.L- GUY R. JOHNSON. pln'agm having an opening` for the shaft o1' NVitneSses: Spindle of the key, and provided with :t slit J. M. VILLIAMS, communicating with said opening and of zt WILSON TOWNSEND. 

